Two Japanese regions have decided to halt the use of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine after more cases of vials contaminated with metallic particles were reported over the weekend.
According to details, Okinawa prefecture, southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan, and Gunma prefecture, one of only eight landlocked prefectures of Japan, have partially suspended the use of Moderna’s vaccine.
An Okinawa official said that the use of Moderna’s vaccine has been stopped at a major vaccination center in the city of Naha, the region’s capital city, while a Gunma official said that only the use of contaminated batches has been suspended.
The development comes a day after the announcement of the Japanese Health Ministry which revealed that authorities were ascertaining the cause of death of two men aged 30 and 38 who died days after receiving their second doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine earlier this month.
Last week, the country’s Health Ministry had suspended the use of 1.63 million doses of Moderna’s vaccine after it emerged that some of its doses contained contaminants.
Both men were reportedly administered the vaccine from doses drawn from one of the three batches whose use was stopped by the Health Ministry last week.
On the other hand, Moderna and its Japanese distributor Takeda, in a joint statement, said that “at this time, there is no evidence that these deaths were caused by the Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine and it is important to wait for the findings of the formal investigation by Japanese authorities to determine whether there is any connection.”
“The nature of particles found in the vaccine doses, which were manufactured by Moderna’s contractor in Europe, also remains unknown yet,” the statement added, noting that “the contaminated doses have been sent to a qualified lab for analysis and initial findings will be issued in a few days.” Note here that media reports have already claimed that metallic particles were found in at least three batches of Moderna’s vaccine.
Rovi, a Spanish pharmaceutical firm that manufactures Moderna’s vaccine for countries other than the US, said that it is also investigating the cause of contamination and the contaminated doses were only distributed in Japan.
